EXBS: TURKMENISTAN EXBS ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ASHGABAT 000153 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC JHARTSHORN, LSPRINGER, and JFRIEDMAN SCA/CEN FOR NBASLEY SCA/RA FOR JMCCLELLAN DHS/CBP BMCCRAY DHS/ICE FOR JOUTLAW DOE/NNSA FOR JNOBLE, AND BPENTOLA DOC/BIS FOR DCREED USCG FOR SHABTEMICHAEL AMEMBASSY BERLIN FOR CBP ATTACHE AMEMBASSY MOSCOW FOR ICE ATTACHE AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD FOR ICE ATTACHE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP KG SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKMENISTAN EXBS ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE JANUARY, 2010 ASHGABAT 00000153 001.2 OF 006 ¶A. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: EXBS focus for December was the support of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Second Line of Defense (SLD) Portal Monitor Project. Advisor continues the process of hiring a second assistant for Turkmenistan. Advisor was on leave 1 - 4 January, and in Tashkent as part of his regional duties, 13 - 27 January. End Summary. ¶B. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD. ¶1. Site Assessments and Meetings during this Reporting Period. a. On 7 January, EXBS met with UNODC representatives in Ashgabat. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a joint partnership with the UNODC for a three-phase project along the Afghan-Turkmen border. Phase one will be executed before June, 2010 and will consist of an assessment of the established ports of entry and green borders. SpQifically, the team composed of EXBS and UNODC will be determining the level of compliance of Turkmen border forces and customs officials under UNSCR 1540 with relation to performance, equipment and infrastructure. Phase two and three will be provision of expert legal and regulatory assistance, equipment and training to bring Turkmenistan into full compliance with UNSCR 1540. Advisor has received the UNODC proposal and will meet again in February to refine it. (Advisor Note: The UNODC Office in Ashgabat is administered from the Regional Office in Tashkent, currently headed by James Callahan. Callahan is departing in February and his replacement will be named soon. While in Tashkent in January, EXBS Advisor discussed this project with the UNODC Office there, and discussed additional joint projects in Uzbekistan. A joint site survey to Termez will be conducted in early March to determine potential projects. One potential project is the UNODC Border Liaison Office Project in Termez. End Note.) b. A 8 January meeting scheduled with the Border Service was canceled. No explanation was given. c. On 8 January EXBS met with the State Customs Service. In attendance were Kakabay Goyunliyev, Head of the International Relations Department, Akgoyunly Niyazov, Head of the Customs Fees Department, and Bayramgeldi Ataguliyev, Head of the Main Customs Office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the new Turkmenbashy International Airport and discuss an opportunity for the Chairman of Customs and Director of the Customs Training Academy to visit the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in New Brunswick, Georgia in April. Although the purpose of the meeting was clearly stated in the dipnote, the participants had no information on the airport, could not tell EXBS if the new terminal was open, nor could they share anything else. In fact, in 30 minutes the three Turkmen uttered only formal pleasantries and acknowledged the Advisor's conversation. Also in attendance was the MFA representative, Hemra Amannazarov. (Advisor Note: On 22 January, EXBS Advisor met with Uzbek Customs to discuss the visit to FLETC by their personnel. Uzbek Customs officials were very warm to the idea of the visit. EXBS also discussed exchanges with the Uzbeks and future training opportunities. End Note.) ASHGABAT 00000153 002.2 OF 006 d. On 28 January, EXBS was contacted by the MFA and told that a follow-up dipnote-requested trip to Turkmenbashy Airport on 2 February would be replaced with a meeting at the State Customs Service to discuss specific needs at the airport, and to schedule a site survey of the airport. e. On 11 January EXBS traveled to Turkmenbashy to conduct a meeting with the Maritime Brigade of the State Border Service. The purpose of the meting was to tour and assess the operability of the Point Jackson Cutter as part of the End-Use Monitoring requirements of granted U.S.Gov equipment and by request of the State Border Service. The EXBS Advisor and assistant arrived by air at 0830, and took a taxi to the location last given by the MFA representative in Ashgabat. Although the Advisor had been told the meeting was approved, MFA could not provide EXBS with anything other than the name of a POC in Turkmenbashy at the Maritime Border Guard Brigade. Arriving at the gate to the dock area of the Brigade, the Advisor presented his business card and dipnote to the gate guard and requested the POC. At first the guard was reluctant to even speak to the Advisor, but finally called over a conscript to carry the dipnote to a patrol boat commander. 30 minutes later (the temperature at the dock was -3C not including wind chill) the conscript returned and told the Advisor andQssistant to go to a club and wait. A Maritime Border Guard (MBG) Major exiting the dock area told the Advisor that the MBG was utilizing a MBG Club as HQ and explained directions. Advisor aQ assistant walked to the Club. (Advisor Note: The dock area is located at 39 degrees, 59 minutes, 45.09 seconds North, 52 degrees, 59 minutes, 32.56 seconds East, adjacent to the State Fish Ministry. The dock is home to the Presidential Yacht, Galkynys (Revival),and approximately a dozen small to mid-size patrol craft. No fueling facilities were visible. End Note.) At the MBG Club, Advisor encountered another guard, who refused entry to EXBS. Another major passing by went for someone. 15 minutes later the POC, Captain Aman Amanov presented himself. He explained the MBG Commander was very busy and that they had not received the dipnote about the meeting. Advisor presented a copy. POC asked the Advisor to wait in a local caf until called. The Advisor and assistant found a wedding restaurant blaring bad Russian rap music that agreed to serve tea. EXBS waited 90 minutes until called. (Advisor Note: The MBG Club is located at 40 degrees, 0 minutes, 0.37 seconds North, 52 degrees, 59 minutes, 28.41 seconds East on Lermentov Street. End Note.) (Advisor Note: Maritime Border Guard uniforms are a distinctive sharp-looking black pant, shirt, Russian-style black fur hat and black felt overcoat, festooned with typical military rank and unique MBG patch, which includes the words: Turkmenistanyn Harby deniz gullugy, or MBG. Junior officers and conscripts in dress uniform have the initials DG, for deniz gullugy, on their epilates. Enlisted wear dark blue cotton-stuffed overlarge jackets, blue imitation fur hats and blue work pants. End Note.) After 90 minutes, the Advisor and assistant were picked up by the POC in a new UAZ Jeep and taken Southeast of town to the Point ASHGABAT 00000153 003.2 OF 006 Jackson. Advisor found a new base under construction with an estimated completion date of April, 2010. There were approximately 10 barracks buildings, and several administrative buildings, as well as the obligatory concrete fence/barrier. (Advisor Note: The new base is located at 40 degrees, 0 minutes, 17.76 minutes North, 53 degrees, 3 minutes, 26.07 seconds East. End Note.) The former Point Jackson Cutter is located at a rusting dock with five other, slightly smaller patrol craft, one much larger ship of obvious military design, and a white luxury yacht, or what could be considered a very large speed boat, possibly used for undercover operations, or possibly a private yacht of some government official who has found a safe place to moor it. That information was not accessible to the Advisor. The Point Jackson is now called Cutter 129 by the Turkmen. Cutter 129 rests against the pilings along the shore, pilings who are a significant hazard to anyone with myopia or depth perception problems as they consist of 8 x 8 planks haphazardly shoved into the bank and tied to worn pillars rising out of the harbor. The harbor smells of rotten fish combined with leaking diesel that gives one who has no seafaring experience pause to ever consider why one would join the Turkmen Maritime Border Brigade. If the balancing act required to board Cutter 129 does not give you pause, leaping as it were from piling to piling then onto an unstable log and finally on board, the smell certainly will. EXBS Advisor and assistant requested permission to board (which seemed required and gave the advisor time to plan a route across the pilings) and boarded, without incident. (Advisor Note: The dock and moorings need major work. End Note.) (Advisor Note: Although the base is new and under construction, the boats (ships) tied up there, with the exemption of the white yacht, seemed to all be out of commission. EXBS Advisor was told that Cutter 129 had been out for three months. End Note.) The Advisor and assistant were given a tour of the small craft by the current Captain, a 1LT whose name was not given, and the former Captain, Captain Aman Amanov (our POC). No non-MBG personnel appeared to be present. Captain Amanov quickly took over. The most significant problem with Cutter 129 is that it is wired for 110V. The generators are sufficient to deploy 220V, but the wiring harnesses were not provided as part of the delivery, nor part of the first year warranty package, and hence light bulbs and commodities unique to America, once gone are not replaced. Safety lights, spotlights, water purification, heating and cooling units are all non-operational due to the 110V issue. Second, one of the generators is down with a fuel filter out, water pump non-operational, and two broken lift rods. The boat cannot put to sea unless both generators are operational. There is no service agreement with Caterpillar and the MBG does not have the funds to service Cutter 129. Third, Advisor was shown a rust hole in the hull, which had been welded over. It was explained to the Advisor that the boat needed to be put up in dry dock and the hull cleaned, repaired and painted. ASHGABAT 00000153 004.2 OF 006 This has not been done for at least eight years. In summary, three things are needed for Cutter 129: 1) An annual Caterpillar service agreement (there is an office in Ashgabat and one in Baku),2) Parts such as a water pump, heating unit, air conditioner, water purifier, light bulbs, spotlight bulbs and a depth gauge, and 3) A dry-dock service, hull repair and paint job. (Advisor Note: As we were preparing to depart, Captain Amanov came to us excitedly explaining that in the dipnote it said Maritime Brigade Commander and the he was the Commander. Since the Advisor saw several majors and the POC was a Captain, the Advisor was hesitant to believe it, but later confirmed it through several sources including the MFA. Rank is often low and not indicative of position in Turkmen military organizations. End Note.) f. On 11 January EXBS attempted to visit the new International Airport in Turkmenbashy after the MBG visit. Requests had been submitted, however after arriving at the airport the EXBS Advisor was told no one was available to meet. Advisor did note the following: 1) There is a second parallel runway under construction to the west of the current runway, and equal in length, 2) There is a new cargo terminal under construction to the north of the old terminal and between it and the new terminal, 3) EXBS was told by a local construction company driver that the target date for opening is April, 4) Advisor seriously estimates much later. g. On 29 January, EXBS Advisor and assistant met with the board of Turkmen Standards, the agency responsible for the regulations concerning importing radioactive sources. The purpose of the meeting was to determine if the U.S. would be allowed to import the specific test sources required for testing, acceptance and calibration of the radiation portal monitors (RPM) installed by DOE/SLD, or to determine a way forward. Present were Ovezmuhammet Ataev, Deputy Administrator of Turkmen Standards, Suhan Mametkuliev, Head of Certification and Standards Department, Anna Orazova, Head of the Meteorology Department, Baltabay Lukmanov, Director of the Regional Center, Vladimir Muradow, Head of the Radiation Dosimetry Department, and Berdiev Ovezmurat, of the Labor Safety Department. Also in attendance was the MFA representative, Hemra Amannazarov. EXBS explained the installation of the RPM and the need for testing and calibration. We presented four options to the panel: 1) Grant the U.S. a license to import, transport and utilize the sources, 2) Grant the DOE subcontractor responsible for maintenance, Turkmen Company Advis a license, 3) Work with the Institute for Nuclear Physics (INP)in Uzbekistan and their sources to grant a license, or 4) Pick the Turkmen Agency we should work with. (Advisor Note: Advisor met with the INP in Tashkent in January and presented the need to them. INP agreed to cooperate and suggested several ways to obtain Turkmen Government approval, such a joint Customs exchange. INP possesses the sources, but the technical specifications would have to be verified by DOE. End Note.) Turkmen Standards officials agreed unanimously that the U.S would not be granted a license to import the sources, nor would Advis. ASHGABAT 00000153 005.2 OF 006 While interested in INP, the officials stated that we should import the sources through a Turkmen agency of the Oil and Gas Industry. It was agreed, granting the sources would be best. EXBS Advisor asked for the name of the appropriate agency, but was told he could not be given that at this time. The MFA representative stated that he would attempt to obtain that by a separate meeting on 2 February. Turkmen Standards officials stated that once the agency was determined, we should submit a request through the Cabinet of Ministers to import and grant the sources to that agency, along with a Memorandum of Agreement on their use. Exact technical specifications of the sources should be contained in the request. They suspected that following that approval, a formal contract would be initiated. This information was transmitted to DOE. ¶2. Training Conducted During Reporting Period. NONE. ¶3. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period. NONE. ¶C. PENDING AND PLANNED TRAINING. a. EXBS has requested two English-speaking Senior Export Control Officials from Turkmenistan attend the University of Georgia's Center For International Trade and Security (CITS),sponsored by the United States Department of State's Office for International Security and Nonproliferation/Export Controls Cooperation (ISN/ECC) scheduled for March 15 - 27, 2010. b. The Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP) Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACIT) is scheduled for 29 Mar - 2 Apr, 2010 in Ashgabat. EXBS has been informed by the MFA that the request to conduct the practical exercise at the international airport in Ashgabat as part of the training was denied. EXBS is seeking alternatives. c. EXBS has offered to host the Chairman or First Deputy of the State Customs Service and the Director of the Customs Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Academy (FLETC) 5 - 6 April, 2010. Expert Trainers will follow-up with a visit to the Turkmen Customs Academy later in 2010. The purpose of this exchange is the institutionalization of training methods at the Turkmen Customs Academy. EXBS Advisor will also be escorting a similar delegation from Uzbek Customs on 7 - 8 April. d. EXBS is coordinating with DHS/CBP for the conduct of an International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT) Course in the U.S. 17 - 21 May, 2010. e. EXBS is working with Department of Energy (DOE) International Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP) to conduct a Commodity Identification Training (CIT) Course in Turkmenistan 19 - 21 May, 2010. EXBS is hosting similar training in Uzbekistan 26 - 28 April, 2010. f. Interdict/RADACAD (Interdiction of Materials and Radiation Academy) will be held 28 June - 2 July, 2010 at the DOE/PNNL HAMMER facility in Richland, Washington for 20-24 Turkmen from Customs and the Border Service. RADACAD trains and equips international border ASHGABAT 00000153 006.2 OF 006 enforcement officers to detect, identify, interdict and investigate all aspects of smuggling related to the proliferation and diversion of material, commodities and components associated with the development and deployment of Weapons of Mass Destruction. g. EXBS will conduct training for local Customs officials on Radiation Isotope Identification Devices (RIIDS) and the VaporTracer2 to include the donation of 15 detectors at the completion of training. The RIIDs require calibration, which will require the importation of small dose radioactive sources. EXBS is in the process of importing radioactive sources in support of the SLD Program and will build on the success of that importation in order to obtain the calibration sources for the RIIDs. ¶D. EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE. ¶1. End-Use Monitoring Status. Initial inventories were delivered to ISN-ECC on 9 December, 2009. ¶2. Pending Equipment Deliveries. a. EXBS has 15 rad-ID Systems (Radiation Isotope Identification Devices)(RIIDs) and 2 VaporTracer2 in our warehouse awaiting a system for importing the radiation test and calibration sources traps for calibration of the VaporTracer2. b. Three X-Ray Fluorescent Technology scanners are enroute back to Turkmenistan. Training was previously conducted on the equipment. When they arrive they will be donated to the GoTX. c. EXBS has received delivery of four CT-30 Kits from WASHDC. d. EXBS will be working with the Turkmen State Border Service (SBS) to identify specific numbers and models of Motorola Radios to order in 2010. $100,000 has been earmarked in the 2010 Program Plan for radios for the SBS. e. EXBS will be working with the State Customs Service (SCS) to identify the specifics of $120,000 in airport interdiction equipment to be earmarked for the new international airport in Turkmenbashy. ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY. The Chairman of Customs was recently replaced by First Deputy Meretgeldi Berdiyev. ¶F. RED FLAG ISSUES. NONE. ¶G. CONTACT INFORMATION. Barry A. Johnson is the Regional EXBS Advisor for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and can be reached at johnsonba8@state.gov, or +993-66-30-85-84. EXBS Assistant for Turkmenistan is Gulshat Jumayeva at jumayevaga@state.gov, and for Uzbekistan is Irina Kochetkova at kochetkovai@state.gov. EXBS Advisor will be in Almaty at the George C. Marshall Center Regional Border Management/Security Conference from 8 - 12 February, 2010, and in Tashkent as part of his regional duties from 12 - 24 February. CURRAN